Brussels Geography

Location

The capital region of Brussels is geographically located in the northern centre of Belgium which is surrounded by the countries like Germany, Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands in Western Europe. Brussels is bordered by the Wallonia and Flemish regions, enclosed by the Valley of Senne River and lies approximately 60 miles (97km) away from the North Sea.

There are 19 municipalities of the Brussels capital region, all with their own individual postal codes, including regions such as the city of Brussels, Anderlecht, Evere, Koekelberg, Jette, Ganshoren, among many others. The city of Brussels is shaped roughly like a pentagon and is surrounded by wide boulevards (Petit Ring) built on the site of old city walls.

Brussels city is divided into two general segments – Lower Town and Upper Town. The Lower Town is based in the Senne Valley and is the main hub for businesses and industries and includes the historic heritage of the city. The upper town, on the valley's east slope, is principally residential and governmental holding the Parliament building, Royal Palace and offices of the ministries.

Geographical Coordinates

City of Brussels 50° 51′ 0″ N, 4° 21′ 0″ E

Capital Region of Brussels 50° 50′ 48″ N, 4° 21′ 9″ E

Climate

Due to its proximity to the coast, Brussels experiences a mild nautical climate all year long which unfortunately results in lots of grey skies and rainy weather. However, May and September are the best months to visit the city. The warmest months are in July and August when the temperatures can reach as high as 22°C (72°F), although they can also be the wettest, with heavy rain. There is also plenty of rain during the winter months and temperatures dropping to 4-7°C (39-45°F).

Average temperature per month in Brussels

Month

High°C (°F)

Low°C (°F)

Month

High°C (°F)

Low°C (°F)

Jan

5 (41)

1 (34)

July

23 (73)

14 (57)

Feb

6 (43)

2 (36)

Aug

23 (73)

14 (57)

Mar

10 (50)

4 (39)

Sep

19 (66)

12 (54)

Apr

14 (57)

6 (43)

Oct

14 (57)

8 (46)

May

18 (54)

9 (48)

Nov

9 (48)

5 (41)

June

20 (68)

12 (54)

Dec

6 (43)

3 (37)

Population & Employment

The capital region of Brussels inhabits approximately 1.2 million people. It is said that today the general population of Brussels is younger and there is a larger gap between the rich and poor. There are mainly French and Dutch people living in Brussels but over the last decade, there has been an influx of many foreigners to the capital region. There is also a large community of Muslims and Black Africans.